Apparatus for making plaster board



March 4, 1930.

J.- MEIER- 1,749,436

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLASTER BOARD Filed April 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

2 7 W Hi5 Amer-"e1 Patented 4, 1930 IJJT'YUNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE man .1. man, or am. LOUIS, mssounr; assr'enoa, n-r'unsrm assremrmrrs, 'ro

ROOK'WOOD CORPORATION Oil DELAWARE OF ERICA, 8'1. LOUIS,

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLABTER BOARD This invention relates to plaster board such as is used for the interior'surfacing of walls continuous operation.

simple and to a method and apparatus for making the same.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine for making a laster board of novel construction which sha for continuous operation and which will produce plaster board in suitable lengths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine "which will. cast the plaster between downwardly moving facings in a Another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus for carrying out the method in accordance with this invention in -a and expeditiousmanner. I

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention; igure 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the head of the apparatus in section;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of Figure ,3; and

i details h PM he Figure 5 is a section on line 1313, Figu Referring to the accompanying drawin the finished plaster board compns'es a b may betofany suitable material, sue

The body is provided with a facing, on one or both sides, of pa r, fabric or other suitable material, adapte to protect the surface and to reenforce the board.

the manufacture of this boardthe ap' aratusillustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive uesd. These figures are more.or less diagrammatic and show the main elements of the apparatus.

confusion; The facings 2 are fed from suitable rolls 5 over a pair of drums 6 and downwardly between a pair of supporting plates be arranged) into the opening between receiving a proper supply of water Many of the structural. ave been omitted in order to avoid Application filed April 16, 1828. Serial No. 832,488.

7. A pair of widebelts drums 6 and a similar 9 and pass between the ings 2. These are endless belts and are adapted to be run continuously by rotation of the drums 6 and 9 so as to always keep a portion of the belts 8 between the plates 7 and the facings 2. These belts 8 move with the facings 2 and serve to protect them against any friction or abrasion in their movement over the lates 7. The plates 7 serve to support the elts 8 to'keep t em flat and thereby support the .facin s 2 in their downward move ment so as to eep them in proper relation form a perfect board. A pair of belts 10 cross-section and moving over suita 1e pulleys 11 are arranged to move downwardly between the -.edges of the belts 8 supported by pair of lower drums side plates 110, one on each side, so as to provide dams to prevent the escape of plaster from between the belts 8. These belts 10 may be driven by any suitable source of power (not shown) and move at the same rate of speed as the belts 8 and the facings 2.

Located just over the opening between the facings 2 where they come together at the drum 6 is a hopper 12 adapted to receive the plasterfrom the mixing drum 13 and feed it the facings 2 at their point of ap roach, and shields 120 being provi ed to gui e the plaster. The mixing drum 13 may be arranged to receive the dry plaster from a suitable bin 14, which may be fed to the drum by a suitable conveyor 15, from a tank 16,- just as it enters the mixing drum. meansvas, for instance, the balls 17, to insure a thorough pulverizing of the plaster and a thorough mixture with the water. When com letely mixed with the water the plaster is ischarged at the end of the drum into the funnel 12. Thus the facings 2 are fed so as to converge MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 8 are carried by the plates 7 and the fac- The drum 13 may be supplied with suitable 8 and the plates 7. The rate of pouring may film therebetween. This be such as to maintain a certain body of plaster always in the funnel so that the plaster upon being is under a certain hydrostatic head which will help to work the molding space an move downthe plaster being somewhat compressed as the facings converge over the rolls 6. During the subsequent movement downward between the plates 7, the plaster gradually beginsto set and the apparatus is so timed that the setting is com lete by the time the board emerges from etween the lower drums 9.

In order to reduce thefriction between the belts 8 and the plates 7, the plates are provided with fluid ducts 18 communicatin with openings 19 whereby any suitable flui such as air or water, may be worked between the belts 8 and the plates 7 so as to provide a reduces friction and insures a smooth and uniform movement. The fluid may be obtained thro h a connection 20 to any suitable source 0 supply.

Upon emergin from the lower drums 9 the finished board 21 may pass between suitable rubber faced guide rolls 22 to any suitable cutting-oif device, such as a pair of cutters 23 operated by eccentrics 24 on a pair of shafts 25 operated by a source of power 32 in timed relation with the movement of the belts 8 and 10, so as to cut off regular lengths of the finished plaster board. A suitable container 26 may be arranged below the cuttingofi de'vices23 so that the finished board when cut oil may be delivered directly to the conthe container along step by step as the sue-- .tainer.; This container may be providedwith suitable guides 27 for holding the finished boards. and may also be provided with a suitable feeding device 28 operated in timed relation with the feed of the board so as to move cessive boards are delivered to it. In this way the finished plaster board may automatically be stacked-in the container as it is finished. V As shown in Figures land 2 the mechanism for controlling the operation of the cutters and of the container or truck 26 pomh" ted opposite cutter is com ected i'n'eairl'sI-t'o'f' chain 36 taki1i" on the shafts. Accordingly the on ters are delivered to the facings aster thorou hly into the, I to condense t 'e sameso as to insure homo eneity of the finished board. The facings an the plaster then wardly together,

motor shaft.

switch 44 having a contact 45 arranged to cooperate with stationary contacts 46 connected with the motor circuit in order to-close the motor circuit. This switch is mounted on a shaft 47 having a wormwheel48 meshing with a worm 49.on ashaft 50 of one of the rolls 9.

It will, therefore, be seen that duringthe operation of the machine, the circuit .of the motor 32 will be closed at predetermined intervals in timed relation with movements of the plaster so that aftera predetermined feed of theplaster sufficient for the desired length, the cutters are operated to sever the plaster and this truck 26. Thereafter the interrupted gear 28 operates to feed the truck along for another space in order to receive the next length of plaster board. r

Pipes 51 and 52 are arranged on opposite sides of the facing 2 as delivered from the rolls 5 and these pipes are perforated to deliver sprays of water on each side of the facing in order to place it in proper condition to recelve the plaster. In order to proi vide for different' thicknesses of plaster, the guides 7 are arranged for adjustment towards and from each other and for this purpose the guides are adjustably'mounted on cross-beams 53 by projections 54 sliding on these 'cross beams and 'screws'55 provided for suitable hand-wheels 56 are provided to secure adjustment.

Arranged within 29 connected by means .of any suitable connection 30 with a controlling device 31 whereby the speed of operation of the belts 8 and 10 may be regulated so as to regulate the feed of the facings in accordance with the rate of feed of the plaster. The controlling device 31 comprises a rheostat arranged to control the circuit of an electric motor 57 which operates the feed screw 15. ()bViously, as the form :ithe "plaster:

preferably has incorporat the funnel 12 is a float plaster board then drops into the this invention the the gypsum a suitable binder such as bagasse, although other'fibrous binders, such as cut rope orwood chips, may be used. In practice where sucha binder, such as bagasse, is used, this binder in proportion of 5% to 10% of the total mass and in shredded form and in short lengths in the size of hogs hair is mixed with the water in order to form a thick soupy mixture. This can be accomplished directly in the tank 16. To this mixture is then added the calcined gypsum from the tank 14, the whole being fed into the mixer 13 and hence to the hopper 12;

It will be obvious, of course, that while the apparatus illustrated shows the facin s as being fed vertically downward, an exactly vertical position need not necessarily be maintained but a greater orless inclination to the vertical will not efie'ct the operation. It will be seen, therefore, that'in accordance with board is carried out in in WhlCh the facings, tial vertical position,

a continuous process supported 1n a substanare fed downwardly 1n the plaster poured against and between the facings at their point of approach and while bein fed. The plaster is thus received by the acings at their point of approach and is more or less compressed between the-facings as they are fed and then permitted to flow downwardly with them and between the supporting means. A body of plaster is maintained at the point of entrance so as to maintain a hydrostatic'head thereon. As the plaster flows downwardly with the facings it takes a set and eventually becomes hard as it passes out from the bottom of the apparatus. It is then cut into suitable lengths and stacked in the container. 26 to be properly disposed of. y I

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit of this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for making plaster board, comprising, means for feeding the facings downwardly, side belts adapted to move with the facings, means extending along said belts for supporting the same against bulging in order to support the facings, and means for pouring the plaster downwardly between the facings so supported. K

2. An apparatus for making plaster board,

comprising, means for feeding the facings downwardly, side belts adapted to move with the facings, means extending along said belts for supporting the same against bulging in order to support the facings, dams at the edges of said belts, and. means for pouring order manufacture of plaster d the facings converglng, and

the plaster downwardly between the facings so supported.

3. An apparatus for making plaster board, comprising, means for feedin the facings downwardly, side belts adapte to move with the facings, means extending alon said belts for supporting the same against iulging in to support the facings, dam belts at the edges of said belts, and means for pouring the plaster downwardly between the' facings so supported.

4. An apparatus for making plaster board, comprising, means for feeding the facings downwardly, side plates adapted to su port the facings, means for pouring the p aster downwardly between the facings so supported, and means at the point of entrance adapted to regulate said feeding means.

5. An apparatus for comprising, means for feeding the facings ownwardly, side plates adapted to support the facin means for pouring the plaster downwardly between thefacings so sup orted, and a float at the point of entrance adhpted to regulate said feeding means.

6. An apparatus for making plaster board,

comprising, means for feeding the facings downwardly, side plates adapted to su port the facings, means for pouring the p aster downwardly between the facings so supported, and a float cooperating with said bod of plaster at a point of entrance adapted to re ulate said feedin means.

An apparatus or making plaster board, comprising, means for feeding the facings downwardly in spaced relation, means for pouring the plaster downwardly between the facings, a belt adaptedto move with the facing, a plate adapted to support said belt, and means for forming a film of fluid between said belt and said plate.

8. An apparatus for making plaster board,

comprising, means for feeding the facings downwardly in spaced relation, means for pouring the plaster downwardly between the facings, a belt adapted to move with the facing, and

a plate adapted to support said belt, and having fluid openings adapted to provide a film of fluid between said belt and said plate.

9. An apparatus for making plaster board, comprising, together, means for pouring the plaster downwardly between the facings, and a spray adapted to play upon the facings at their I means for bringing the facings ing the plaster downwardly between the fac- .mgs.

11. An apparatus for maln'ng plaster board, comprisin means for feeding the facings downwar ly, side belts-adapted to move'with the facings, said belts and moving therewith, supporting plates extending along said belts and said dams adapted bulging until pouring the plaster downwardly between the facings, and means for lubricating said belts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature this 11th day of April, 1923. ALBERT J MEIER.

dams at the edges of I to support the same against the plasterhas set, means for. 

